Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
A German designed Leopard AS1 Gun Tank from the 1st Armored Regiment (1ARMD) participates in a simulated battle during the Talisman Saber 2005 exercise at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland, Australia (AUS).
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 28: United States Navy Vice Admiral William McRaven testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill June 28, 2011 in Washington, DC. Credited for organizing and executing Operation Neptune's Spear, the special ops raid that led to the death of Osama bin Laden, McRaven has been nominated to command the United State Special Operations Command. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec 12, 2015) An MV-22 Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tilt Squadron (VMM) 166 (Reinforced) launches from amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in support of a long-range raid exercise. The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is underway off the coast of Southern California completing a certification exercise (CERTEX). CERTEX is the final evaluation of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (13th MEU) and Boxer ARG prior to deployment and is intended to certify their readiness to conduct integrated missions across the full spectrum of military operations. (U. S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Eric C. Burgett/Released)
Iraqi supporters of Moqtada al-Sadr shout slogans during a protest against corruption in Baghdad's Sadr City April 1, 2016, a day after the influential Shiite cleric ordered his followers to end a two-week sit-in in the capital calling for government reform.
Sadr ordered his followers to end the sit-in on March 31 after the country's premier proposed new ministers for a technocratic cabinet that he had demanded. / AFP / AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
